Change in urban and non-urban pattern of ED use during the COVID-19 pandemic in 28 Michigan hospitals: an observational study

Abstract

Objective To assess the trends in visits, overall and by age, to urban and non-urban emergency departments (EDs), and visits resulting in admission to hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using a large regional database.Setting A large regional database of 28 EDs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, with an index case of 11 March 2020 and peak in the first week of April.Participants ED visits during the first 5 months of the calendar year were included and compared with the previous year. Facilities where these participants were seen were classified as urban or non-urban, with comparisons of total visits, COVID-like cases, paediatric and trauma.Outcome measures Daily visits to EDs of patients presenting with COVID-like symptoms, trauma, age patterns and total cases, and stratified between urban and non-urban settings.Results There were 1 732 852 visits across the 2 years, 953 407 between study and comparison periods, and 457 130 visits defined as COVID-like (median age 44 years). Total ED visits decreased to 48% of the previous year, showing a delayed-inverse relationship with COVID-19. Trauma cases dropped but returned to the pre-COVID-19 rate by the end of May in Urban centres. Paediatric cases decreased to 20% of the previous year by the end of April. The oldest age groups showed the least change in ED visits in response to the pandemic.Conclusions This large US Midwestern state study describes a dramatic decrease in ED visits after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, including stratification by varying ages and trauma, demonstrating the tangible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban and non-urban EDs.